Combined stump-puller and tree-transplanter.



No. 700,641. Patented May 20, I902.

W. A. HAMMER. COMBINED S'TUMP FULLER AND TREE TRANSPLANTER.

(Application filed. July 11, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet I.

Ho. 700,64l. Patented May 20, I902.

w. A. HAMMER. COMBINED STUMP FULLER AND TREE TRANSPLANTER.

(Application filed July 11, 1901.)

2 Sheets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

M W. W

m: NORRIS vznzas 120.. PNDTOLITNOH WASHINGTON D. c.

- UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

'WILLIE A. HAMMER, OF BARDWELL, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF TWO-TH IRDS TO FRANCIS, MARION HOGAN- CAMP, OF BARDWELL, KENTUCKY.

COMBINED STUM P-PULL E' R AND TREE-TRANSPLANTER.

srnorrroarrou forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,641, dated May 20, 1902.

Serial No. 67,872. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, -WILLIE A. HAMMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bardwell, in the county of Oarlisle and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Combined Stump Puller and Tree Transplanter, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to a combined stumpro puller and tree-transplanter.

. The object of the invention is to present a 4 simply constructed, thoroughly effective, cheap, durable, and readily-operable apparatus of the character specified which may be easily transported from point to point and with readiness and ease be changed from a stump-puller to a tree-transplanter.

A further object is to construct the support: ing-frame in such manner as while presenting the requisite rigidity and strength for practical work it shall be composed ofbut comparatively few number of parts and combined with a view to effective service and readiness of repair in case of damage or z 5 breakage.

A further object is to provide for ready vertical adjustment of the frame with relation to its supporting-wheels, whereby to adapt the apparatus to stumps of different heights or to permit of the apparatus being drawn over rough or stony ground.

A further object is to provide effective means for holding the lifting-beam in raised position independently of its lifting mechan- 3 5 ism, thereby to permit readjustment of such lifting mechanism when the same has reached;

its upward movement without lowering the partially-extracted stump.

A further object is to improve the construc- 40 tion of the tongue in such manner as to cause it to brace and strengthen theframe of the apparatus.

WVith these'and other objects in View, the nature of WhiCh Wlil appear in the further 5 presentation of the case, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a stump-puller and tree-transplanter, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated a form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the objects thereof into effect, it being understood that the same ideas may be otherwise embodied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and in these drawings- Figure 1 is a view in perspective exhibiting the device as it appears as a stump-extractor, the stump extracted being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar View exhibiting the device as it appearswhen employed as a tree-transplanter, the tree being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section. Fig. 5 is a detached detail view of a part of one of the sills.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the supporting-sills of the apparatus, each being the counterpart of the other and each supporting the same mechanism, so that a description of one will serve for both. The sill is composed of two members '3 and 4:, each member to be constructed of a piece of timher of the requisite strength for the purpose designed and having the --lower end portion of each member preferably rounded, as at 5, thereby to prevent the sill from catching on obstructions. Secured between the sill mem- 8o bers 3 and 4 and preferably at or near the center thereof are" three vertical uprights 6,

7, and 8,'the lower end of each of-whichis reduced to fit between the sills, the reduced portion forming two shoulders 9 to bear upon the upper edge of the sills, thereby to cause the vertical pressure from the uprights to be transmitted directly to the sills, thereby removing strain from the bolts 10, that hold the uprights assembled with the sills. As herein 0 shown, there-are two bolts passing through each upright and through the sills; but it is to be understood that the function is not to be limited to the exact number of bolts nor the exact manner of assembling the uprights 5 with the sills, as any other connection that may be stable and reliable in character may be adopted. The upper ends of the uprights are braced and stayed by corner-braces 11, the lower ends of which are reduced in the 10d same manner as the uprights 6, 7, and 8 to fit between the sills and the upper ends of the braces being beveled to lie flatly against the outer surfaces of the uprights 6 and 8, the uprights being held at a suitable distance apart at their upper ends by spacingblocks 12, and through the braces 11, uprights, and spacing-blocks, passes a bolt 13, carrying a nut 14, by means of which all these parts may be firmly and securely clamped together. As shown, there is but one of the bolts 13 employed; but it is to be understood that a greater number than that shown may be employed, if desired. The lower reduced ends of the brace-rods 11 are held assembled with the sills by bolts 15, these bolts not only subserving the function named, but also operatin g to prevent spreading of the sills at the 1 ends. The reduced portions of the braces 11 extend downward nearly to the bottom edge of the sills, and secured between the sills and extending outward from the uprights6 and 8 to the lower end of the braces is a block or filling 16, which serves to close the lower ends of the sills at these points, and thereby present a convenient receptacle in which tools or cordage may be carried. The blocks 16, in addition to forming the box-bottom, as described, also serve additionally to brace the sills.

On the outer side of the sill is secured a housing or casing 17, in which works a supporting-wheel 18, the wheel being mounted upon an axle 19, passing through the outer plate of the housing and into the outer sill. The supporting-wheel may be made of any preferred character and is adapted to be adjusted vertically with relation to the housing, thereby to permit the supporting-frame of the apparatus being raised orlowered, as may be desired, to move the sills farther from or bring them closer to the ground, as may be preferred. The means for efiecting the vertical adjustment of the wheel in thisinstance consists in providing the outer wall of the housing and the outer sill member with a plurality of alined openings 20-in this instance three-so that by removingv the axle from one to the other of the openings the adjustment of the wheel with relation to the supportingframe will be accomplished.

The two sills, with their attached mechanism, are connected by end cross-beams 21, two at each end of the structure, these crossbeams being held assembled with relation to the braces 11 by bolts 22 and 23 and at the points where they cross by bolts 24. In order to permit the device to be operable with stumps of difierent sizes, it is essential that provision be made whereby the sills,with their mechanism, will be adjusted laterally, thus to increase or diminish the space between the opposing faces of the sills. To accomplish this result, the braces 11 are provided with openings25 intermediate of their ends, these openings 'to be engaged by the bolts 23 when it is desired to widen the structure, to effect which it will be only necessary to unscrew the bolts from the openings in the lower portion of the braces and bring the bolts into engagement with the openings 25 intermediate of the ends of the braces. By this simple yet thoroughly efficient means the device may be adjusted to make it applicable to roots or trees of any size which the apparatus is capable of handling. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the employment of only one bolt-opening 25 on each brace 11, as a plurality of these openings may be employed, thereby to increase the number of the latter adjustments of the structure.

The lifting-beam 26 is composed of timbers of a width to fit in the spaces formed by the opposed faces of the uprights 6, 7, and 8. In this instance there is'but one of these beams shown; but it is to be understood that two may be employed, one to engage each of the spaces between the uprights; also, that the number of uprights may be greater than three for each sill, so that by this arrangement a still greater number of lifting-beams may be employed. Each beam comprises a base-beam 27, two inclined beams 28, two struts 29, and a chock-block 30. The inclined beams 26 are toed or mortised into the beam 27 at 31 and are held rigidly assembled therewith by a bolt 32, passing through the inclined beam and into the base-beam, the struts 29 being similarly mortised or toed into the inclined beams 28 and held in position thereagainst by bolts 33, passing through the beams and into the struts, the inner ends of the struts bearing against the chock-block30. The inner ends of the struts 29 are assembled with the base-beam 27 by bolts 34, and the chock-block is held assembled with the said beam by bolts 35. The upper ends of the inclined beams 28 are secured together by a bolt or bolts 36, these ends of the beams being beveled to present a miter-joint, and the top ends of the beams are out square to support a plate 37 of a width to extend beyond the sides of the beam, and through this plate pass two rods 38 and in engagement with a plate 39, resting against the under side of the base-beam 27, nuts 40 serving to clamp the rods firmly against the plates 37 and 39. These rods 38 constitute tie-rods and serve to brace the elevating-beam and render it rigid and capable of withstanding great strain. I

As a means for elevating and lowering the beam two chains 41 are employed, one at each side of the structure, one end of each of these chains being secured in an eye or ring bolt 42, secured in the end of the beam, thence passing over or through a sheave or pulley 42, secured to the top of one of the side uprights, and thence to a drum 43, suitably mounted on the side of the sill, the drum carrying a crank 44, by which it may be turned, thereby in a readily-appreciable manner to raise and lower the beam.

As a means for lowering and raising the beam when extracting a stump I mayemploy any suitable mechanism for the purpose, and in this instance show a jack, the base of which rests upon a block 46, bearing on the sill, the upper end of the jack to engage with a block 47, bearing against the under side of the beam. It is to be understood that the jacks and their appurtenances are to be duplicated on each side of the apparatus, so that a description of one will serve for both. The jacks may be of the ordinaryscrew character or hydraulic, or, as stated, any other suitable mechanism may be employed for lifting the beam, the point beingto provide a power that will be requisite to draw a stump from the ground. The means for engaging a stump comprises two or more chains 48, each to pass over the beam 27, and by preference to bear upon the chock-block 30, the lower ends of the chains carrying hooks 48 or other suitable means to catch into. a stump or under or around a root. As herein shown, ordinary pointed hooks are employed; but these may be differently constructed from what is shown and still be within the scope of the invention.

In order to hold the beam elevated above the sills, thereby to permit readjustment of the screw-jack, where one is employed, when the same has reached the limit of its upward stroke, thereby to prevent the stump from sinking back into the ground, I provide the uprights 6, 7, and 8 with a plurality of transverse openings 49, to be engaged by a bar 50, this bar to pass through the openings and under the beam, as will be readily understood.

As a matter of convenience I may associate with the uprights or with any other convenient portion of the apparatus a plurality of hooks 51, upon which levers or prying-bars may be suspended.

The tongue comprises a pole 52, two side bars 53, and two end bars 5%, the end bars 54: being secured to the pole and the side bars 53 secured to the end bars 54. In assembling the pole with the structure the side bars 53 are secured to one end of the two uprights 6, or, if it be desired to shift the pole to the opposite end of the machine, to the two uprights 8, and the ends of the side bars 53 are secured to the inclined braces 11, and thus associating the pole members with the frame the same is materially strengthened. The sills each carry at one end a singletree 543, and to this the horses are hitched, the pole 52 being passed through the brace-yoke of the harness, as with an ordinary wagon. I

When the device is used as a stump-puller, it is driven to the field and over the stump, the space between the ground and the arch of the cross-beams being of sufficient height to. allow the stump to pass thereunder. Should the stump be of large size, the sill members may be spread apart by loosening the crossbeams from engagement with the inclined braces 11, moving the sill members apart, and securing the cross-braces in one of the openings of the inclined braces in'the manner described. The beam is now lowered through the agency of the cranks 44:, and the hooks 48 of the chains 48 are brought into engagement either with a part of the stump or around a root. The beam is now elevated until the chain is taut, and the jacks are placed in position beneath the beam with their lower ends bearing on the blocks before referred to and the upper ends against the blocks under the beam 27. The jacks are now operated to force the beam upward. When the screws of the jacks have reached the limit of their upward movement, the beam is held in its raised position by passing the bar through two of the alined openings of a pair of the beams 6 and 7 or 7 and 8, as the case may be, the jack is then lowered, and another block is placed under its base, after which the operation is repeated until the stump is extracted. The apparatus is then driven fromthe point and the stump deposited at the place desired.

When the device is to be used as a treetransplanter, the cross-beams at the rear end of the structure are removed, the apparatus is then backed up until the tree engages with the lifting-beam, and the hooks .48 of the chains are then brought into engagement with the tree to be lifted, this result being accomplished in the same manner as when extracting a stump. In drawing the tree from the ground a ball of earth will adhere around the roots, and this will protect them against injury. Should the tree be of large size and it be desired to loosen the strain on the apparatus or to reduce labor in the uprooting of the tree, it will be advisable to dig around the trees for several feet from the trunk. The apparatus is then driven to the point where the tree is to be transplanted and is lowered into a cavity prepared for its reception.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the device, of the present invention is composed of but few parts these are associated and combined in such manner as to be thoroughly eflicient and reliable in operation. As none of the parts are of intricate construction, should one or more of them become damaged or broken in use such part or parts can be ordinarily supplied by a mechanic of ordinary ability.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction ,operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without furtherdescription, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is- 1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising opposite sills, upright guides rising from the sills, a lifting-beam movable between the guides, inclined corner-braces between the sills .and the respective upright guides, a substantially horizontal tongueframe connected to the upright guides and the front inclined braces, a tongue carried by the frame, and whiffietrees connected to the front ends of the sills.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising opposite sills, frames rising therefrom, lifting means mounted upon the frame, and front and rear crossed braces adjustably connecting the opposite frames, the members of each pair of crossed braces having a pivotal connection at their point of crossing, and also provided at their opposite ends with adjustable connections with the respective frames.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising opposite sills, intermediate upright guides rising from the sills, lifting means working between the guides, inclined braces between the tops of the guides and the opposite ends of the respective sills, and front and rear crossed braces adj ustably connecting the respective sills and upright guides, the members of each pair of crossed braces having a pivotal connection at their point of crossing and the opposite ends of the members having connections with and adjustable l0ngitudi-- nally of the respective inclined braces.

at. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of opposite sills, intermediate upright guides rising therefrom, a lifting-beam working between the guides, lifting-jacks mounted upon the sills and beneath the lifting-beam, pulleys carried by the upper ends of the guides, drums mounted upon end portions of the sills, cables working over the respective drums and having their opposite ends connected to the adjacent ends of the lifting-beam and the corresponding drums, crank-handles for the drums, inclined braces extending from the tops of the guides to the opposite ends of the respective sills, front and rear pairs of crossed braces, the members of each pair of braces havinga pivotal connection at their point of crossing, and the opposite ends of the members having adjustable connections with the respective inclined braces, a tongue-frame connected to the front inclined braces and the upright guides, a tongue carried by the frame, and draft connections applied to the front ends of the sills.

5. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising supporting-sills, upright guides carried. thereby, a lifting-beam movable between the guides, corner-braces connecting the sills with the uprights, and adjustable cross-beams connecting the corner-braces.

6. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising supporting-sills, upright guides carried thereby, a lifting-beam movable between the guides, corner-braces connecting the sills and the uprights, adjustable crossbeams connecting the corner-braces, and a tongue connected with the uprights and the corner-braces.

7. A device of the character specified, comprising supporting-sills, upright guides carried thereby, and a lifting-beam movable between the guides, said beam comprising a base-beam connected inclined end beams, struts interposed between the latter beams and the base-beam, a chock-block bearing against the lower ends of the struts, and clamping means bearing against the bottom of the base-beam and the apex of the end beams.

8. A device of the character specified, comprising two supporting-sills each composed of two members suitably spaced apart and closed at their lower sides by filling blocks, the chambers thus formed constituting receptacles for tools, cartridges, &c., upright guides having their lower ends secured between the sill members, a lifting-beam movable between the guides, and means for operating the beam.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIE A. HAMMER.

Witnesses:

R. J. BUGG, J. H. COLLINS. 

